Happy Hour deals, dollar beer nights and more from our hardworking writers. (Our handy rule of thumb: the gloomier the bar, the cheaper the drinks.)
99 Bottles of Beer on The Wall (110 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.459.9999) 99 Bottles can please drinkers in 99 different ways. For those who like it cheap, Thirsty Thursday takes $1 off pints and $3 off pitchers, and if you’re a paying customer on Tuesday evening, representatives of brewers and beer companies come promoting and chances are you’ll be given a free beer or two. The conclusion of Wednesday’s 8pm trivia night brings out happy hour prices until closing.
Asti (715 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.423.7337) It’s been the same group of people for hundreds of years. Filling the bar with smoke and scratching the felt on the pool table, they are loyal to the bartenders, the overpriced jukebox and the dirt-cheap drinks. Sunday well drinks $3, Happy Hour $2 pints and $2 wells, and every night a shot and a beer can be had together for $5.
The Avenue (11 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.426.3434) The Asti’s unruly next-door neighbor offers a daily Happy Hour with $3 pints and $1 off everything, with Wednesday pitchers at $5 a pop.
Blue Lagoon (923 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.423.7117) It’s the seedy home of ’80s night, and offers different $4 drink specials every evening. Saturday: Rockstar and vodka; Wednesday: Gin, Jameson’s and Jack; Tuesday: well drinks $4.
Bocci’s Cellar (140 Encinal St, Santa Cruz. 831.427.1795) The best way to wet your whistle for a game of bocci ball is with alcohol. Knowing this, Bocci’s Cellar offers $3 pints every Tuesday.
Boardwalk Bowling Alley (115 Cliff St, Santa Cruz. 831.426.3324) Santa Cruz drinking and bowling might not equal too many strikes, but $2 off the pitcher of your choice will save some money for the next round. Price applies during Monday and Tuesday Happy Hours.
Crepe Place (1134 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.429.6994) In addition to the hippest scene on Soquel st., a 4-6pm Happy Hour boasts $1 off well drinks, and $1 off draft beer.
Cypress Lounge (120 Union St, Santa Cruz. 831.459.9876) The Lounge is tied for cheapest pint special ($2 Happy Hour pints), but it also comes with a free side of class and an early bedtime. Tuesday extends Happy Hour prices till closing, but it’s a close that rolls around at 10pm.
Jury Room (712 Ocean St, Santa Cruz. 831.426.7120) Some bars are labeled as dives, but Jury room is an expedition to the ocean floor. There are certain perks, though, and Happy Hour charges only $2.50 for a basic well drink or pint, stretching all night long on Wednesday. On football days, that same $.50 will also get you a hotdog.
Red Room (200 Locust St, Santa Cruz. 831.425.1913) A 3-7pm happy hour at the swankiest bar in town finds well drinks at a low $3 every day.
Rush Inn (113 Knight St, Santa Cruz. 831.425.9673) The start of football season brings Monday night football specials, and on Wednesdays a $7.50 pitcher of Budweiser also comes with free pool. Thirsty Thursday features a different drink every week, running from $3-3.50 apiece.
Seabright Brewery (519 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.426.2739) Award-winning beers and a great crowd make the happy hour prices of Tuesday’s “Neighborhood Night” one of the best deals in town ($3.50 pints, $7 pitchers, $3.50 well drinks). Thursday’s Brewers’ Night has a featured beer at $2.50 a pint after 3pm.
Woodstock Pizza (710 Front St, Santa Cruz. 831.427.4444) Surprise! The cheapest beer in town isn’t found at a bar. With basic refills at $1 and premium refills at $2, the overworked tap probably won’t shut off for the whole of Wednesday’s Pint Night. Starter pint is only $5.
